Material-handling machine



Dec. 4, 1923.

c. H. sHooK MATERIAL HANDLING MACHINE Filed Manrch 15. 1920 5Sheets-SheetA l al l'oznciJ 1,476,375 c. H. sHooK .MATERIAL HANDLINGMACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 13 1920 /N vE/VTo/ Chl/l5. H.SHOOK.

Deco 4 n C. H. SHOCK MATERIAL HANDLING MACHINE- Filed March 13 1920 5Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec. 4, '1923. 1,476,375

- C. H. SHOOK MATERIAL HANDLING MACHINE Filed March 13 1920 5Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

OMS. f7'- .Haak BY Dec. 4, 1923. 1,476,375

c. H. sHooK l MATERIAL HANDLING MACHINE Filed March 13 1920 5Sheets-Shea?l 5 llllllllllllllllllllllllllll llll l'l lll INVENTOR.

C7105 h. 5h00/c ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 4, 192g.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE.l

vCHAIRLIES H. SHOOK, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

l MATERIAL-HANDLING MACHINE.

Application led March 13, 1920; Serial No. 365,447.

To all lwhom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. SHooK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Dayton, inthe county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Material-HandlingMachines, of which the following is a specification, reference being hadtherein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention. relates to a material handling machine and the presentapplication is a continuation of the application for patent filed 'by meMarch 12, 1919, Serial No. 282145, in so far as the subject matter iscommon to the twoapplications.

The object of the invention is to provide a machine of this characterwhich will have a wide range of utility and will be capable of suchoperations as grading, trenching, miscellaneous excavating, loading andunloading, and the handling in general of bulk materials.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a machine having avertically adjustable rotary excavating member which can be laterallyadjusted to cause it to operate over a surface much wider than the widthof the excavating member itself.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a machine fromwhich the excavating mechanism may be removed and the remaining .portionof the machine utilized as a tractor for hauling and the like.

Other pbjects of the invention will appear as the mechanism is describedin detail.

1n the accompanying drawings, Fig. lis a side elevation of a machineembodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same,

F ig. 3 isa front end elevation thereof; Fig. 4 is a sectional viewtaken between the bucket wheel and the tractor; Fig. 5 is a sideelevation on an enlarged scale of the carriage for the excavatingmechanism; and Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view of the bucket wheel.

in these drawings I have illustrated vone embodiment of my invention butit will be understood that this particular embodiment has been chosenyfor the purpose of illustration only and that the invention may takevarious forms without departing from the spirit thereof.

In. that embodiment of theinvention here shown I have provided asuitable self propelled vehicle upon which the excavating mechanismv andthev operating and conmovement about a vertical axis and con-- nected bychains 5 with a steering post '6 by means of which the wheels 3' may bemanipulated to steer the mechanismI as the latter is advanced. rThe mainframe 1 is of a width at its forward end suflicient to support themechanism, as will be'hereinafter described, and. is preferably of awidth equal to, or slightly greater than, the over all `width of thecaterpillar tractors 2. The side members of the frame converge rear-Wardly so that at its rear end the frame is of a width less than thedistance between the two ground wheels 3, thus permitting these| wheelsto have a relatively large amount of vertical movement, about alongitudinal axis to accommodate the same to irregularities in theground, or other supportin surface.

he tractor may be pro-vided with a power generating device ofTv anysuitable character and in the present instance l have shown it asprovided with an internal combustion engine 7 which is connected througha. transmission mechanism, not shown but contained in the' casing 8,with a shaft 9 extending forwardly from the engine` and provided at itsforward end with a worm 10 which meshes with a worm wheel 11 on atransverse shaft 12, which shaft is journaled in suitable bearings onthe main frame 1.v One end of this shaft has secured thereto a gear 13`which is adapted to mesh with a pinion 14 mounted on a shaft 15 alsoextending transversely to the main frame and to which the pinion 14 isconnected by means of a feather 16.

' the same and the clutch 22 and the other clutches of this machine havebeen omitted lfrom the drawings for the sake of clearness, but theclutches are shown-as providedwith the usual grooved collars by means ofwhich they may be connected with controlling levers in the usual manner.Mounted on the shaft 21 is a pinion 23 which is connected to this shaftby means of a clutch 24 and which meshes with the external gear of acompensating device 25 mounted on a two part shaft 26. Secured to theends of the shaft 26 are sprocket wheels 27 which are connected by meansof sprocket chains 28 with the sprocket wheels 29 of the respectivecaterpillar tractors 2. In this manner it will be apparent that thetract'or may be propelled by the engine and that the usual variablespeeds may be had by use of the transmission mechanism 8. However, ifthese speeds are sufficiently high for yuse when the machine istravellin over the road they are too high for use or excavatingpurposes4 and I prefer therefore to provide other means for connectingthe engine shaft with the compensating mechanism. To this end the shaft12 is provided with a pinion 30 which is connected therewith 'by meansof a clutch 31 and which meshes with a gear 32 on a shaft 33. The shaft33 also has a pinion 34 which meshes with a gear 35 on a shaft 36. Theshaft 36 has 'secured thereto a groupof graduated sprocket wheels 37which are adapted to be connected by means of a sprocket chain, not hereshown, with a second group of graduated sprocket wheels 38 on the shaft21, to which they are connected by means of aI clutch 39. It will beapparent therefore that the machine may be propelled at roadspeedthrough the gears 13 and 14 and the sprocket chain 19, or that it may bepropelled at a slower speed for excavating purposes through the gears31, 32, 34 and 35 and the sprockets 37 and 38, and that during theinterval of excavation when it is not desired to advance the machinebodily .the driving mechanism may be entirely disconnected.

The excavating mechanism preferably comprises a rotary member, or wheel,40 having arranged about its periphery a series of excavating elements,or buckets 41, so arranged that as the Wheel rotates they will dig intothe material and excavate a portion of the same. This rotary excavatingmechanism, which will hereinafter be termed the bucket wheel lmay .takevarious forms and may be supported in variousways, butin the presen-tinstance the wheel is mounted on a shaft 43 which is journaled inbearings 44 vcarried by the side members of a supporting frame 45 whichis connected l'with the tractor frame and between the two members ofwhich the bucket wheel is arranged. The buckets extend laterally fromthe Wheel and are rigidly secured to the circumferential portionthereof. In the present instance I have mounted the buckets between tworings, or annular frame members, 46 and 47 which are respectivelysecured t0 the opposite sides of the buckets. The ring 46 is rigidlysecured to the outer ends of the spokes of the wheel 40 so that thebucket structure, including the rings and the buckets, are rigidilysecured to the wheel. The bucket wheel may be rotated about its axis inany suitable manner, but in the present construction I have employedgearing for this purpose and, as here shown, the

rings 46 and 47 are provided with internal teeth 48 thereby constitutingthe same annular gears. These gears mesh respectivel with pinions 49 and50 carried by shaftslI and 52 journaled in suitable bearings onl therespective side members of the frame 45.

In order that the buckets of the bucket wheel may properly enga-ge thematerial to be handled at different heights with relation to the`tractor frame the wheel is so mounted that it is capable of verticaladj ustment. In the present instance'the frame 45 is pivotallysupported, as shown at 53, upon Slide blocks 54 mounted 'on ver-ticalides 55, which in turn are carried by the orward portion of the tractorframe. The frame 45 is supported in its adjusted positions, about itsaxis by means of a suitable cable 56 which is wound about a drum 57 Y ona shaft 58 j ournaled in the tractor frame,

lll() This superstructure, in the present instance, v

constitutes a frame upon which the cabin f-or the tractor may be builtbut obviously it maybe of any suitable character. The cable 56 extendsforwardly from the sheave 59 about sheaves 61 sup-ported fnom' atransverse track, orbar, 62 which is carried by forwardly extendingarms, or brackets, 63, which in turn are supported upon the frame 60.vThe cable is `then passed about another guide,'or sheave, 64 which isconnected with a yoke 65 which straddles the upper portion ofthe bucketwheel and the two arms which are pivotally connected, as shown at 66, tothe forward ends ofthe respective side members of the frame 45.Consequently the rotation of the drum 57 will raise the frame about itsaxis and thus elevate the wheel or will permit the w el and the frame tomove downwardly abo At said axis.

The frame 45 may moved bodily in |a vertical direction by sliding theblocksI 54 upon the vertical guides 55 -andwhile this may beaccomplished in various ways I haveI llli two slide blocks and woundabout adrum 68 supported in a supplemental frame 69 extending I upwardlyfrom thel main. tractor frame '1. This -drum is in the present instancemanually operated and tothis end it has connected therewith a worm wheel70 which is engaged by a worm 71 mounted on a shaft 72 provided at itsupper end with a hand wheel 73.

The material elevated by the bucket wheel is preferably received by aconveyor which conveys the same laterally and disposes thereof at apoint at one side of the line of travel of the mechanism. The materialmay be deposited by the conveyor in a wa on or in a car, or in a pilealong the line o excavation. The conveyor,`which is shown at 74, has itsinner, or receiving, end extending inlto the bucket wheel s0 .that itwill lie beneath the buckets, which, as has been stated,

project laterally from the wheel proper. To this end the conveyor iscarried by a frame 75 which is mounted upon the frame 45 and the outerend of which projects laterally beyond the line of travel of themechanism as a whole, and is supported by a suitable cable 76. To enablethe receiving end ,ofthe conveyor to extend completely beneath thebuckets and thereby receive the full load of each bucket as it isdischarged therefrom, I haveshown the spo-kes, for body portion, of thewheel as rovided with an outwardly curved portion 7-.into which theinner end of the conveyorl projects, as shown in Fig. 3. To retain .thematerial in the buckets until it has been elevated to a point above theconveyor 'a guard plate 78 is mounted in a `fixed position along theline of travel of the inner edges .of the buckets and serves to closethe open inner sides of v the buckets until they have reached a pointabove the conveyor. To permit the outer end of the conveyor to beadjusted to different heights the frame is formed in two parts which arepivot-ally connected one to theA other at 79. The conveyor 'must, ofcourse, be adjusted vertically simultaneously with the verticaladjustment of Ithe bucket wheel and the end portion thereof should alsobe capable of adjustment independently of the adjustment 'of the bucketwheel., In the present construction I utilize a single cable to effectboth of these adjustments and to this end :the cable 76 is passed abouta block, or sheave, 80 connected with the conveyor frame near the outerendthe'reof and about a second block, or sheave, 81 .which is suspendedfrom the bar,- or track, 62. One end of this cable extends from theblock 81 vto a drum 83 mounted on the supplemental frame 69 and actuatedby j a worm wheel 84 which is engaged 'by a worm 85 on a shaft, 86provided with a hand wheel 87 The other end of the cable '76 extendsfrom the block 81 about-a guide, .or sheave, 88 rearwardly about a guideon the frame 60. In the present, instance the cable 76 extends about thesame sheave, 59, which carries the cable 56, said slieave being madedouble toi accommodate both cables. From the sheave 59 the cable extendsdownwardly and is wound onto the drum 57 along l with the cable 56. Itwill be apparent from this construction that when the drum 57 isoperated to elevate `the bucket Wheel the conveyor will be elevatedsimultaneously therewith Wi-thout disturbing the relative adjustment ofthe two parts and that the discharge end of the conveyor may be adjustedrelatively to the bucket wheel by the manipulation of the hand wheel 87.

Means'are'provided for moving the bucket wheel transversely of the lineof movement of the mechanism as a whole to enable it to operate over apath muc-h wider than the width of the bucket wheel. To this'end thesupporting mechanism for the bucket wheel is so constructed. and mountedthat it can move transverscl of the tractor frame. A s here-shown, t cupright guides 55 ,are rigidly secured to rearwardly extending framemembers 89 which are provided at their rear ends with bearings 90 whichembrace a shaft 91 which fin turn is journaled in bearings 92 on thetractor frame. These bearings 90 are so mounted on the shaft 91 thatthey are free to move axially thereof. Preferably the frame members 89are provided with'downwardly extending braces 93 which are secured attheir lower ends to the guides 55. The guides 55 and the frame members89 and their associated parts constitute a carriage which travels alonga track 94 extending transversel the tractor frame. This track is ereshown as a channel iron and the carriage is provided with rollers 95which travel in he track. Lateral movement mayb be imparted to thecarriage, and consequently to the bucket wheel, by any suitable means,

but in the present construction I have utill ized cables for thispurpose also and, as here shown, cables 96 are connected with therespective sides of the carriage and extend outwardly about guides, orsheaves, 97 at the outer ends ofthe track. 94 thence rearwardly aboutdrums 98 which are mounted on the shaft 58 and connected therewith bymeans of clutches 99.

The supporting mechanism/for the outer end of the bucket wheel'frame 45and for the conveyor also move laterally with the bucket wheel and tothis end the sheaves 61 and 81, which are suspended from the supportingbar, or track, 62 are carried, respectively, by roller carriers, 100 and101, mounted to travel on the track 62. The two carriers are connectedone tothe other by isc" sides ofthe carrier 100 and pass about guides orsheaves 104 mounted on the respective .arms or brackets, 63 thencerearwardly and downwardly to drums 105 which are preferably rigidlysecured to and form part of the drums 98 on the shaft 58.

' Consequently the operation of the drums 98 drum 106 with whichcooperates a friction' band not here shown. Therefore in order toprevent the lateral movement of the carrier 100 from altering thevertical position of the bucket wheel and the elevator, due to theshortening of the cable, I have provided the track 62 with a curvedportion 107, the higher portion of which is at the center of the line oftravel of the carrier 100. Consequently as the carrier moves in eitherdirection from this central position and the cable is shortened due tothe lateral movement of the carrier, the carrier moves downwardly alongthe curved surface of the track suiiciently to compensate for theshortening of the cable, thereby maintaining the bucket wheel and theelevator in their adjusted positions. Each double drum 98-105, is heldnormally against rotation by means of suitable brake mechanism, which,as here shown, comprises a brake drum 108 with which cooperates afriction band which is not shown but which may be of any suitableconstruction. `It will be noted' from an examination of, Figs. 3 and 4that the track 94 extends to points slightly. be-

yond the outer edges of the Ycaterpillar tractors, 2, so that thecarriage for the bucket wheel can be moved for the full width of themechanism, thereby enabling the latter to cut a path suHiciently `widerthan the mechanism to permit the same to travel therein, therebyenabling the. mechanism to cut its own' path. The drum shaft 58 may bedriven in any suitable manner, but as here shown, it is provided with'asprocket wheel 109 which is connected by a sprocket chain rotatetherewith, this being preferably ac which shaft, as has been heretoforeeX- plained, is provided with a pinion 14 which may be moved into andout of mesh with the driving gear 13. The gear 112 on the shaft 91meshes with a gear 115 mounted on a shaft 116 journaled in bearings 117on the supplemental frame. The shaft 116 is provided with sprocketwheels 118 .which are connected by means of sprocket chains 119 withsprocket wheels 120. on the shafts51 and 52 which carry the gears 49 and50 which mesh with the internal gears on the bucket wheel. -Eachsprocket chain 119 is preferably passed about a guide 219- arranged outof alinement with. the axes the two sprocket wheels so as to givethechain a triangular form Awhich will permit the bucket wheel frame tobe raised or lowered without affecting the tension of the chain. Thismechanism not onl)7 rotates the bucket wheel but it also actuates theconveyor 74 and to this end the operating shaft-of the conveyor, whichis shown at 121, is connected by beveled gears 122 and 123 with theshaft 52. The conveyor shaft 121 carries the inner drum 12.4 and ifdesired positive rotation can be imparted to he outer drum 125 by meansof a sprocket c ain 126 passing about a sprocket wheel on the shaft 121and a second sprocket wheel 'mounted on the shaft of the drum 125.

Theoperation of the mechanism'will be 'readily understood from theforegoing description of the several parts thereof and it will beapparent that when an excavation is to be made, or material to behandled, the

mechanism is advanced to bring the bucket wheel into a proper positionwith relation to the material and the bucketwheel is then adjustedvertically to the desired height. The forward movement of the tractor isthen interrupted and the shaft 91 is operated to impart rotatorymovement to the bucket wheel and at the same time the drums 98 and 105on that side of the mechanism opposite the side on which the excavatingwheel is located are operated to move the excavating wheel transverselyto the tractor frame and consequently to the line of the excavation,thus causing the bucket wheel to make a cut transverse to the line ofexcavation. When the bucket wheel has reached the limit of its movementin one direction, which may be determined either by the width of the cutor the length of the track 94, the tractor is.

operated to advance the mechanism as a whole and the drums 98 and 105which have been operating are disconnected from the shaft and the otherpair of drums 98 and 105 are connected therewith so that the bucketwheel is moved laterally in the opposite di rection. If the machine isutilized for digging a trench, or for other work Which does not require.a cut of greater Width than the width of the bucket wheel, the bucketWheel is set to the desired height and is fixed against transversemovement. A slow forward movement is then imparted to the tractor sothat the bucket Wheel Will be forced into the material as the tractoradvances. It Will be apparent that the operation of the mechanism is of'such a character that the machine can be used for the purpose ofgrading roads or the like, for miscellaneous excavations, as a trenchmachine, for the purpose of loading Wagons or cars or the like, or as aback filler. Further, it will be apparent that by placing the mechanismupon an open top car that the mechanism may be used for unloadingpurposes. Further by removing the excavating mechanism, which can bedone by removing the carriage for the bucket Wheel frame 45,disconnecting the arms 63 from the frame 60 and disconnecting thecables, there remains a tractor Which can be used for hauling or otheruses to which the tractor may be put, and that this tractor Will .beprovided with hoisting mechanism. This feature of converting theexcavating machine into a tractor is an important one because inmanyplaces, as for example, in the oil fields there is a certain amount ofmiscellaneous excavating and.

, trenching Work to be done and there is also tions may occur to aperson skilled in the art.

Havin now fully described my invention What I c aim as new and desire tosecure'by Letters Patent is:

l. In a mechanism of the character described, the combination 4With asupporting structure and means for advancing the same, of a bucket Wheelrotatable about an axis transverse to the line of movement of saidsupporting structure, and'means mounted on said supporting structure,for moving said bucket Wheel bodily in a direction parallel with itsaxis of rotation.

2. In a mechanism of the character described, the combination with asupporting structure and means for advancing the same, of a bucket Wheelrotatable about an axis transverse to the line of movement,of saidsupporting structure, means for rotating said bucket Wheel about itsaxis, and means mounted on said supporting structure for moving saidbucket Wheel in a direction parallel With its axis during its rotationabout said axis.

3. In a mechanism of the character described, the combination with asupporting structure and driving mechanism mounted thereon, of acarriage mounted on said supporting structurefor transverse movementrelatively to said vsupporting structure and said driving mechanism, abucket Wheel connected With said carriage and rotatable about an axisparallel with the line of Inovement of said carriage, and means forsimultaneously rotating salid bucket Wheel and actuating said carriage.

4. In a mechanism of the character de scribed, the combination with asupporting structure and driving mechanism mounted thereon, ofa carriagemounted on said supporting structure for transverse movement relativelyto said supporting structure and said driving mechanism, ak frameextending forwardly from said carriage, `a bucket Wheel rotatablymounted on saidframe, and means carried by said supporting structure tosupport the outer end of said frame, said means being of such acharacter as to permit said frame to be moved transversely to saidcarriage.

5. In a mechanism of the .character described, the combinationwith asupporting structure and driving mechanism mounted thereon, of acarriage mounted on said supportingl structure for transverse movement.relatively to said supporting structure and said driving mechanism, aframe, a bucket Wheel rotatably mounted on said frame, said frame beingso connected with said carriage as to permit said bucket Wheel to beadjusted vertically relatively thereto, and means for actuating saidbucket Wheel.

6. In a mechanism of the character deim v scribed, the combination witha supporting A structure and driving mechanism mounted thereon, of acarriage mounted on'said supporting structure for transverse movementrelatively to said' supporting structure and said driving mechanism, aframe pivotally mounted on said carriage, a bucket Wheel rotatablymounted. on said frame, and means mounted on said supporting structureand operatively connected with said bucket Wheel for actuating the same.

7. In a mechanism of the character described, the combination with asupporting structure and driving mechanism mounted thereon, of acarriage mounted on said supporting structure for transverse movementrelatively to said supporting structure and said `driving mechanism,vertical guides carried by said carriage, blocks slidably mounted onsaid guides, a frame connected with said'blocks, a bucket Wheelrotatably mounted on said frame, and means for actuating said bucketWheel.

V8. In a mechanism of the character de scribed, the combination with asupport-ing structure and driving mechanism mounted thereon, of acarriage mounted on said supporting structure for transverse movementrelatively to said supporting structure and 10 said driving mechanism,vertical guides carried by said carriage, slidable blocks mounted onsaid guide, a frame pivotally mounted on said slide blocks, a bucketwheel rotatably mounted on said frame, and means for l5 actuating saidbucket Wheel.

9. In a mechanism of the character described, the combination with asupporting structure and means for advancing the same, of a carriagemounted on said supporting 29 structure for movement transverselythereto,

a bucket Wheel connected with said, carriage for rotation about an axisparallel with the line of movement thereof, actuating mechanism for saidbucket Wheel mounted on said carriage, a driving member mounted on saidstructure for movement transversely thereto,

a 'bucket Wheel connected with said carriage and capable of rotationabout an axis parallel with the line of movement of said carriage, atransverse `shaft mounted on said 40 supporting structure, means forrotating said shaft, and actuating mechanism for said bucket Wheelmounted on said carriage and comp-rising a member slidably mounted onsaid shaft and held against rotation relatively thereto.

11. In a mechanism of the character described, the combination with asupporting structure and means for advancing the same, lof a carriagemounted on said supporting '"0 structure for'movement transverselythereto,

a frame connected With said carriage and capable of vertical adjustmentrelatively thereto, a bucket Wheel rotatably mounted on said frame, a'sprocket Wheel mounted on said frame and operatively connected with saidbucket Wheel to rotate the same, a sprocket Wheel mounted on saidcarriage, a sprocket chain connecting said sprocket Wheels one to theother, a gear connected with said last mentioned sprocket Wheel, a

shaft mounted on said supporting structure, means for rotating saidshaft, and a gear slidably mounted on said shaft, hed against rotationrelatively thereto and meshing with the first mentioned gear.

12. In a mechanism of the character de* scribed, the combination With asupporting a gear slidably a bucket wheel rotatably mounted on saidframe, and actuating mechanism mounted on said frame and said carriageand comprising a gear meshing with the first mentioned gear.

13. Inl a mechanism of the character described, the combination with asupporting struct-ure and means for advancing the same, of a transverseshaft mounted on said supportingstructure, means for rotating saidshaft, a carriage mounted on said structure for movement parallel tosaid shaft and having bearings slidably mounted on said shaft, agearslidably mounted onl said shaft between said bearings and held. againstrotation relatively to said shaft, a frame mounted on said carriage forvertical adjustment relatively thereto, a bucket Wheel rotatably mountedon said. frame, a sprocket wheel mounted on said frame and havingoperative connection With sa-id bucket Wheel, a second sprocket Wheelmounted on said carriage, a gear connected Wit-h said second sprocketWheel and meshing With the first mentioned sprocket gear, a Aguidesupported by said carriage and arranged out of alinement with the axesof said sprocket Wheels, and a sprocket chain extending about saidsprocket Wheels and said guide.

14. In a mechanism of the character described, the combination with asupporting structure and means for advancing t-he same, of a bucketWheel mounted on said sup porting structure for adjustment bothvertically and transversely thereto, a drum mounted on said supportingstructure, means for rotatingsaid drum, a sheave supported above saidbucket Wheel, a cable. Wound about said drum, extending over said sheaveand connected with said bucket Wheel to support the same in differentvertical positions Without interfering with the transverse movementthereof, and means for actuating said bucket Wheel.

15. In a mechanism. of the character described, the combination with asupporting structure and means for advancing the same, of `a bucketWheel mounted on` said supporting structure for adjustment bothvertically and transversely thereto, a drum mounted on said supportingstructure, means for rotating said drum, a sheave supported above saidbucket Wheel, a cable Wound about said Ell drum, extending over saidsheave and connected with said bucket wheel to support the same indiii'erent vertical positions Wit-hout interfering with the transversemovement thereof, and means to compensate for the taking up of saidcable as said bucket wheel moves transversely relatively to said drum,and means for actuating said bucket wheel.

16. In a mechanism of the character described, the combination with asupporting structure and means for advancing the same, of a drum mountedon said supporting structure, a carriage mounted on said supportingstructure for movement transversely relatively to said drum, a framemounted on said Vcarriage for vertical adjustment relatively thereto, abucket w-heel rotatably mounted on said frame, means for rotating saidbucket wheel, a track arranged above said bucket wheel parallel with theline of movement of said carriage, a carrier mounted on said track, asheave connected with said carrier, and a cable Wound about said drum,extending over said sheave and connected with the outer end of saidframe.

17. In a mechanism of the character described, the combination with asupporting structure and' means for advancing the same, of a drummounted on said support-l ing structure, a carriage mounted on saidsupporting structure for movement transversely relatively to said drum,a frame mounted on said carriage for vertical adjustment relativelythereto, a. bucket Wheel rotatably mounted on said frame, means forrotating said bucket wheel, a track arranged above said bucket wheelparallel with the line of movement of said carriage, a carrier mountedon said track, a sheave connected with said carrier, a cable wound aboutsaid drum, extending over! said sheave and connected with the outer endof said frame, said track having an upwardly curved portion tocompensate for the taking up of said cable due to the transversemovement of said carrier relatively to said drum.

18. In a mechanlsm of the character described, the combination with asupporting structure and means for advancing the same, of a drum mountedo-n said supporting structure, a carriage mounted on said supportingstructure formovement transversely relatively to said drum, a framemounted on said carriage for vertical adjustment relatively thereto, abucket wheel rotatably mounted on said framemeans for rotating saidbucket wheel, a track arranged above' said bucket wheel parallel withthe line of movement of said carriage, a carrier lmounted on said track,a sheave connected with said carrier, a cable Wound about said drum,extending over said sheave and'conne'cted with the outer end of bucketwheel rotatably mounted on. said frame, a second track carried by saidsup- I porting structure and arranged above said bucket Wheel parallelwith the first. mentioned track, a carrier mounted o-n said secondtrack, a supporting connection between said carrier and said frame, andmechanismv mounted on said supporting structure and connected with saidcarriage and said carrier to move the same along their respectivetracks.

20. In a mechanism of the character Adescribed, the combination with asupporting structure and means for advancing the same, of a trackmounted on said supporting structure and extending transversely thereto,a carriage mounted on said track, a frame connected with said carriage,a bucket wheel rotatably mounted on said frame, a second ytrack carriedby said supporting structure and arranged above said bucket Wheelparallel with the first mentioned track, a carrier mounted on saidsecond track, a supporting connection between said carrier and saidframe, guides arranged near the opposite ends of both tracks, cablesconnected with said carriage and said carrier on opposite sides thereofand extending about the respective guides, and winding drums mounted onsaid supporting structure to actuate said cables.

21. In a mechanism of the character described, the combination with asupporting structure and means for advancing. the same, of a trackmounted on said supporting structure and extending transversely thereto,a carriage mounted on said track, a frame connected with said carriage,a

`bucket wheel rotatably mounted on said rame, a second track carried bysaid `\sup porting structure and arranged above said: bucket Wheelparallel with the first mentioned track, a carrier mounted on saidsecond track, a supporting connection between said carrier and saidframe, guides arranged near the opposite ends of both tracks, cablesconnected with said carriage and said carrier on opposite sides thereofand extending about the respective guides, two double drums mounted onsaid supporting structure, cables connected With` said carriage and saidcarrier on one side thereof and wound about the respective parts of onedouble drum, and cables connected with said carriagevand said carrier onthe other side mounted on said supporting structure for rotating saidpinion.

28, In a mechanism of the character described, the combination with asupporting structure and means for advancing the same, of a bucket Wheelcarried by said sup` porting structure and comprising a single rotatorymember having an internal gear, and a plurality of excavatingbucketssecured to the periphery of said rotatable member and projectinglaterally in the plane thereof, a ring secured to the sides of saidbuckets opposite said rotatable member and independently thereof andhaving an internal gear,

' pinions meshing with the respective gears,

and means for actuating said lplnions.

424. In a mechanism of the character described, the combinationl with asupporting structure and means for advancing the same, of a framemounted on said supporting structure and comprising side members,

a bucket Wheel rotatably mounted on said frame and arranged between theside members thereof, said bucket Wheel comprising a single rotatablemember having an internal gear, and excavating buckets secured to saidrotatable member and projecting laterally from the plane thereof, asecond internal gear rigidly secured to the sides of said bucketsopposite to and independent of said rotatable member, shafts journaledon the respective side members of said frame, pinions mounted on saidshafts and meshing with the respective internal gears, sprocket Wheelssecured to the respective shafts, other sprocket wheels mounted on saidsupporting structure, a sprocket chain to connect the first mentionedsprocket Wheels with the last mentioned sprocket Wheels, and means forrotating said last mentioned sprocket wheels.

25. In a mechanism of the character described, the combination with asupporting structure and means for advancing the same, of'a bucket wheelrotatably mounted on said supporting structure and comprisinga rotatablemember and a series of buckets secured to the periphery of saidrotatable member and projecting laterally therefrom, means for rotatingsaid bucket Wheel, and a conveyor supported adjacent to said bucketwheel with its receiving end projecting into the same so as to liebeneath said buckets when the latter are in their discharge positions,said rotatable member having an annular recess into which the end ofsaid conveyor projects.

2 6. In a mechanism ofthe character described, the combination with asupporting structure and means foradvancing the same, of a bucket Wheelcarried by said supporting structure and comprising spokes andexcavating buckets projecting laterally from the plane of said spokes,said spokes having portions curved outwardly to form an annular groove,and a conveyor supported adjacent to said bucket wheel and having oneend extending into said annular groove.

27. In av mechanism of the character described, the combination with asupporting structure and means for advancing the same, of a bucket wheelrotatably supported by said supporting structure, a conveyor carried bysaid supporting structure and arranged to receive the material from theckets of said bucket wheel, and means for simultaneously moving saidbucket Wheel and said conveyor relatively to said supporting structureand transversely to the line of movement thereof.

28. In a mechanism of the character described, the combination With asupporting structure and means for advancing the same, of a bucket Wheelrotatably supported by said supporting structure, a conveyor carried"bysaid supporting structure and arranged to receive the material from thebuckets of said bucket Wheel, means for simultaneously moving saidbucket Wheel and said conveyor relatively to said supporting structureand transversely to the line of movement thereof and means for adjustingsaid bucket Wheel and said conveyor vertically relatively to saidsupporting structure.

29. In a mechanism of the character described, the combination with asupporting structure and means for advancing the same, of a ybucketwheel rotatably supported by said supporting structure, a conveyorcarried by said supporting structure and arranged to receive thematerial from the buckets of said bucket wheel, means for simultaneouslymoving said bucket Wheel and said conveyor relatively to said supportingstructure and transversely to the line of movement thereof, means foradjusting said bucket Wheel and said conveyor vertically relatively tosaidV supporting structure, and means for adjusting said conveyorrelatively to said bucket Wheel.

30. In a mechanism of the character described, the combination with asupporting structure and means for advancing the same, of a framemounted on said supporting structure for vertical adjust-ment, a bucketWheel rotatably mounted on said frame, a conveyor having one endsupported on said llf) frame in a position to receive material from saidbucket Awheel, said supporting structure Ahaving a part overhanging saidbucket scribed, the combination with a supporting structure and meansfor advancing the same, of a track mounted on said supporting structureand extending transversely thereto, a carriage mounted on said track, aframe connected with said carriage, a buhcket wheel Arotatably mountedon said frame', a conveyor having one end mounted on said iframev andarranged to receive ma` terial from said bucket wheel, a second tracksupported by said 'supporting structure and arranged above said bucketwheel,

a carrier mounted on said second track, a-

guide carried by said carrier, a cable connected with said frame andextending about said guide, ,a second carrier mounted on said track, aguide carried by said second carrier, a cable connected with the outerend of said conveyor and extending about the last mentioned guide, adrum mounted on said supporting structure With which both of said cablesare connected, and means for moving said carriage and said carrierssimultaneously along their respective tracks.

32. In a mechanism of the character de-v scribed, the combination with asupporting structure and rmeans for advancing the same, of a trackmounted on said support ing structure and extending transverselythereto, a carriage mounted on said track, a frame connected withl saidcarriage, a bucket wheel rotatablyppmounted on said frame, a conveyorhaving one en'd mountedon said frame and arranged toreceive materialfrom said bucket wheel, a second track supported by said supportingstructure and arranged above said bucket wheel, a carrier mounted onsaid second track, two guides carried with said carrier, a cableconnected with said frame and extending about one of said guides, asecond carrier mounted on said second track, a guide carried by saidsecond carrier, a cable connected with the outer fend of said conveyorand extending about the guide on said second carrier and about the otherguideon the rst mentioned carrier, a drumvmounted on said supportingstructure with which both of said cables are connected, other cablesconnected with Said carriers and said carriage, and drums mounted onsaid supporting structure and connected with said last mentioned cablesto move Said carriage and said carriers along their respective tracks.

33. scribed, the combination with a supporting structure and means fory'advancing the same, of a track mounted on said supporting structure andextending transversely thereto, a carriage' mounted on said track, a:trame connected with said cariage, a bucket Wheel rotatably mounted onsaidframe, a conveyor having one end mounted on said frame and arrangedto receive material from said bucket wheel, a second track supportedabout said bucket wheel, a `carrier mounted on -said second track, twoguides connected with said' carrier, a cable connected with said frameand extending about one of saidguides, a second carrier mounted on saidsecond track, asheave carried by said second carrier, a sheave connectedwith the outer end of said conveyor, a drum mounted on said supportingstructure, means for ro- .tating said drum, a cable connected with saiddrum and extending about the sheave on said second carrier, about thesheave connected -with said conveyor then passing again about the sheaveon said secondv carrier and about the other guide on the first mentionedcarrier, and a second drum on said supporting structure with which bothIn a mechanism of the character deof said cables are connected, andmeans for c moving said carriage and said carrier along their respectivetracks.

34. In a mechanism of the character described, a supporting structurecomprising traction devices and means for actuating said tractiondevices, of a bucket Wheel carried by the forward end of said supportingstructure, and means for moving said bucket wheel transversely to saidsupporting structure for a distance greater than the distance from theouter edge of one traction device to the outeredge of the other tractiondevice, and means :tor actuating said bucket wheel.

35. In'a mechanism of the character described, a supporting structurecomprising traction devices and means for actuating said tractiondevices, of a track mounted on the forward end of said supportingstructure and extending transverselyv thereto to points adjacent to theouter edges of the respective traction devices, a carriage mounted onsaid track and movable from one 'endv by the lirst mentioned shaft foractuating said bucket wheel.

u37. In al machine of the character described, a carriage, powermechanism mounted on said carriage, a supporting structure mounted, onsaid carriage for movement transversely thereto, a bucket Wheel mount-led on said supporting structure for rotation about an axis parallel withthe line of movement of said supporting structure, and operativeconnections between said power mechanism, said supporting structure andsaid bucket Wheel to rotate the bucket wheel and to impart transversemovement to-said supporting structure, said bucket wheel comprsingspokes and buckets projecting laterally therefrom, an endless conveyorextend? ing laterally from said bucket wheel and having one endextending into the Wheel beneath the point of discharge of said bucketsto receive the material therefrom, and a driving connection betweensaidendless c0nveyor and the operating mechanism for said bucket Wheel,said conveyor being support-v ed for transverse movement with saidbucket wheel.

(38. In a machine of the character described, a carriage, powermechanism mount` ed on said carriage, a supporting structure mounted onsaid carriage for movement transversely thereto, a bucket wheel mountedon said supporting structure for rotation about an axis parallel withthe line of movement of said supporting structure, operative connectionsbetween said power mechanism, said supporting structure and said bucketwheel to rotate the bucket wheeland to impart transverse movement tosaid supporting structure, said bucketl wheel comprising spokes andbuckets projecting laterally therefrom, an endless conveyor extending ilaterally from said bucket Wheel and having one end extending into thewheel/beneath the point of discharge of said buckets to receive .thematerial therefrom, a driving con nection between said endless conveyorand the operating mechanism for said bucket- Wheel, said conveyor beingsupported for transverse movement with said bucket wheel, and arelatively fixed guard actinga-s a base. over which the buckets moveduring a por tion of their movement with the bucket wheel.

In testimony whereof, I affix myvsignature hereto. d

CHARLES H. SHOOK.

